Thank you for the feedback! We definitely have plans to make the trim around the windows thicker and painted white. We know shutters aren't technically correct because they would be too small and obviously not functional, but there is just so much beige vinyl we wanted find a way to cover up as much as possible!

Hi, Elaina, Your home is a cottage with lots of potential for adding curb appeal and functionality. You need to exercise care to ensure that whatever you add to it doesn't overwhelm the existing structure. A local residential designer/architect or remodeler with in-house design staff should be able to show you a couple of suitable alternatives once they know how you intend to use the space and what your budget is. You mentioned your neighborhood includes some historic homes. Your remodeling project may be constrained by restrictive architectural covenants in addition to whatever set-back regulations are specified in your zoning ordinance. Again, a local residential designer/architect or remodeler can help you sort through those before you dive into design. Best wishes for a successful project.

You might consider this: Add a forward facing gable roof over the entire are between the two wings of the house -- beginning at the center left/right ridge of the center part of the house -- and centering the ridge of the forward facing gable over the front door -- and extending the front wall of that forward facing gable forward until the front wall of it is atop the left/right ridge of that right wing of the house. Most if not all of that space could become your new front foyer and you could then add a shed roof from the right wing of the house all the way over to the left front corner of the house as your front porch You could make your front porch deeper in the middle in front of the foyer if you don't want your front foyer to be all that large.

Hi Charles, Thank you for the note. We have not moved this far with a builder in the past so we were not certain on what to expect. This company specializes in porches and patios and so I was under the impression that after we signed onto the job and placed a deposit that they would begin using an architect to plan for the roof construction. Is this not the norm?